Lineker Released; Turner Earns Contract Extension

Derbyshire have released opening batsman Matt Lineker from his current contract, as well as securing the services of fast-bowler Mark Turner on a new two-year deal as they look ahead to 2013.

Turner, who has previously played for Durham and Somerset, has been clocked as one of the fastest bowlers on the domestic circuit this year by the Sky Sports speedgun and has taken 30 wickets at an average of 29.43 across all competitions for the club.

Head Coach Karl Krikken said of Turner’s two-year extension, which will keep him at the County Ground until at least the end of 2014: “A new two-year contract is recognition of the progress Mark has made during the 2012 season. He can go on to be an excellent bowler for this club in years to come.

“Every bowling attack in every form of the game benefits from a bowler with express pace and aggression. That’s what Mark brings to Derbyshire and I’m delighted to have secured his services for the next couple of seasons. Every time our captain throws Mark the ball, we know we’re getting maximum effort and an absolute bundle of energy regardless of the match situation and conditions. He’s also capable of giving batsmen a real working over with his pace and that’s a tremendous asset.”

Meanwhile, Lineker, a 27 year-old opening batsman, who was dropped from Derbyshire’s batting line-up ahead of the ongoing match against Essex following a difficult campaign, has been told that he is no longer needed by the club.

Head Coach Karl Krikken said, “Matt departs with the very best wishes of everyone at the club. His journey from club cricketer to professional is a fine example to young players around Derbyshire and throughout the country. He got off to a few positive starts during his run in the team this year, but was unfortunately unable to convert them into big scores and we are now looking at alternative options at the top of the order for next season.”

Across seven matches this season – six of which have been in the Championship – he has scored only 219 runs at an average of 19.91. The highest score of his 10-match first-class career came against Kent last season when he made 71.

Lineker was initially signed by Derbyshire on a summer contract in 2011 after impressing with his consistent run scoring for Ockbrook & Borrowash in the Derbyshire Premier League. He was named the Second XI Player of the Year at the end of last season, but has struggled to nail down a top-order slot this season; with the ECB’s incentive payments to counties for fielding young cricketers probably counting against someone like him – a relatively late developer – when Derbyshire came to look at their playing staff ahead of 2013.